The Terrifying, Deadly Avalanche That Went Down In Utah History In 1926

Because the canyon was so narrow, Bingham only had one street. Homes lined the street all the way up the canyon for seven miles. Unfortunately, this narrow topography would prove to be deadly in 1926.

A huge avalanche crashed down the canyon, burying everything in its wake. The avalanche destroyed 14 homes and a three-story boarding house.

This avalanche still holds the record as the most devastating avalanche in Utah history. The disaster made national news.

39 people died that day, including a young boy who had been playing in his yard when the avalanche swept him away. Many others were injured, and 15 were hospitalized.

Due to the cold, people were huddled inside by their stoves that day. As the wall of snow and debris ripped through the homes, the stoves caught the rubble on fire, and many of the dead were burned beyond recognition.

The homes that took the brunt of the avalanche were reduced to splinters, and 25 families and 200 miners who were staying in boarding houses were left homeless.